Diptera.info

Posted by cyprinoid on 21-07-2009 17:26

Edit: I now suspect Calliphoridae. Pollenia ?

I have a question, is it so that no Sarcophagids can be identified (even to genus) without closeup of genitalia?

I have a couple of species from today, but there's no need in posting them if that is the case.

Thanks

Edited by cyprinoid on 18-08-2009 08:50

Posted by ChrisR on 21-07-2009 19:20

Many genera can be determined from photos and even species sometimes - Miltograminae etc. But the big problem is the Sarcophagini where there are many closely related genera and often these need to be examined microscopically before you can be sure of a generic determination. Genitalia are usually only required for a species-level determination :)

Posted by cyprinoid on 21-07-2009 19:33

ChrisR: Thank you for clearing that up. I will not bother people with posting pictures of Sarcophagini looking species then.

Posted by ChrisR on 21-07-2009 19:36

This looks to me like a female sarcophagini (plumose antennae, reddish eyes, chequered abdomen, striped thorax) - this means a genus is possible but species is probably impossible :)

Posted by cyprinoid on 21-07-2009 19:37

How can I tell it's not a Pollenia sp. (Calliphoridae).

In an attempt to minimize the mess I'm making.
Here's another one near by, looks different but closely related.

Edited by cyprinoid on 21-07-2009 19:43

Posted by ChrisR on 21-07-2009 19:45

The second photo does show a Pollenia - note the curly, golden hairs on the thorax ... I can't see similar hairs on the first photo so I don't think the first one is a Pollenia :)

Posted by cyprinoid on 21-07-2009 19:49

ChrisR: Great! Thank you for your patience with the incompetent.

Only comfort is that I do store this info in my brain. (and my pics will have the right id, which is important) :)

Posted by Tony Irwin on 21-07-2009 23:05

Enlarge the first photo, Chris - you will see those golden hairs! Both pics are Pollenia.

Posted by cyprinoid on 22-07-2009 06:12

Just to clarify, is this what we are looking at?

Also, is it possible to say speciesvfor these two? I have a lot of pics of the first, only the one of the secound.

Posted by ChrisR on 22-07-2009 08:27

#10

Thanks Tony - you're right ... in the top one it is just harder to see those hairs - needs a clearer enlargement :)

Posted by Tony Irwin on 22-07-2009 18:10

#11

Yes, those are typical hairs for Pollenia - there are some visible on the small triangular area to the top right of your red square too. Sometimes the hairs are almost all rubbed off, but the abdominal pattern is quite distinctive, so that is a good clue as well.